STATEMENT: Virginia Air Pollution Control Board votes to repeal RGGI

RICHMOND Va. — The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board voted 4-3 Wednesday to repeal Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This regional program puts a cap on carbon emissions. It passed Virginia’s General Assembly and was signed into law by former Gov. Ralph Northam in March 2020. RGGI generated more than a half a billion dollars for energy efficiency and resiliency projects in Virginia’s first year of participation. 

Since taking office in 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration has worked to roll back Virginia’s climate programs and directed the Department of Environmental Quality to withdraw Virginia from the program, leading to Wednesday’s vote. 

Statement from Elly Boehmer, Environment Virginia state director:

“The decision by Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board to repeal this successful program is vexing,  given the pollution filling Virginia’s skies right now. Global warming affects every American, and beyond the unprecedented wildfire smoke smothering Virginia, our state is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather. This misguided decision pushes Virginia back a step as we try to make progress against climate change. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has been one of our best tools to lower carbon emissions and is a large source of funding for energy efficiency and climate resiliency projects for the Commonwealth. We urge Virginia’s leaders to reconsider what’s best for the future of our state.”